asked the Minister of Supply what arrangements are to be made to decontrol the licensing of used machine tools; and what arrangements are contemplated for the future.

As from 1st February, 1945, the acquisition of new and used metal-working machine tools will in general not be subject to licence, and the price control is being removed in respect of orders for metal-working tools placed after that date. General powers of control are, however, being maintained, and will be applied selectively so as to ensure that all essential machine tool needs are met. Details of the arrangements are embodied in a new Control of Machine Tools (No. 14) Order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent his Department proposes to dispose of military equipment now in the Middle East to European countries.

I have been asked to reply, When military equipment now in the Middle East becomes surplus to Service requirements in that area, consideration is first given by the War Office to possible requirements of the Allied Forces in other theatres. Equipment not so required will be notified to the Ministry of Supply. They will arrange, through the various Departments concerned, for its use in production programmes, for relief in Europe, or otherwise.

asked the Minister of Production whether he is aware that inasmuch as wholesale firms are now delivering groceries in bulk to the retail trade instead of, as formerly, in paper packages, great difficulty is being experienced by retailers in obtaining wrapping paper and bags for the purpose of delivery to their customers; and whether he will take steps to relieve this shortage by a further provision of such wrapping paper and bags.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer which I gave to a Question on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Leicester East (Colonel Lyons) on 25th January.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many unnaturalised Germans are employed in Government Departments and the Departments in which they are employed.

Under Defence Regulations 60D aliens may be temporarily employed in the Government service if they possess special qualifications, and there are no suitably qualified British subjects readily available for employment in the post concerned. Specific Treasury consent is required for the employment of an enemy alien in any non-industrial post, and that consent has been given in the case of 66 persons of German nationality, or who are now Stateless but were formerly of German nationality. The Departments concerned are shown below. In some of these cases employment has been terminated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of Income Tax and Excess Profits Tax paid by companies owning property in Mauritius, but which are registered in the United King, is allocated to the Government of Mauritius.

No allocation is made to the Government of Mauritius from the

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, respectively, the prior occupations of the head officers of his newly-established regional offices.

The following table gives the occupations of the Board of Trade Regional Controllers prior to their appointment:proceeds of such taxes collected by the Government of the United Kingdom. Companies trading or owning properties in Mauritius are, however, liable to the rates of Income Tax and Excess Profits Tax charged on all companies operating in the Colony, irrespective of residence. The ordinary rate of Income Tax so charged at present is 5s. in the pound, and companies which are liable also to the United Kingdom Income Tax are entitled to claim relief up to that amount from their United Kingdom Income Tax liability. The rate of Excess Profits Tax in Mauritius is 50 per cent., and the tax charged on companies which are also liable to United Kingdom Excess Profits Tax is divided, under an arrangement entered into between the two Governments, in proportion to the rates of Excess Profits Tax in Mauritius and the United Kingdom respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the irrigation works in the northern part of Mauritius, mentioned in paragraph 41 of the Report on Mauritius Sugar Industry, 1929 (Cmd. 3518), have been carried out; whether the crops planted are being used for home or export consumption; and what crops are being produced.

Up to 1931, Rs. 7,000,000 have been spent on irrigation works in this area. The work was then postponed for reasons of economy and because there was not sufficient prospect of the completed scheme proving financially self-supporting. The completion of the work was reconsidered shortly before the war with a view specially to increases in local production of foodstuffs, but no action was taken owing to uncertainty whether the water would be purchased, whether the work could be completed at reasonable cost, and whether suitable food crops could be grown and marketed. War-time conditions have precluded any further action beyond repair work, but the water already available from the existing works is being used both for export crops, i.e. sugar, and for various food crops produced for local consumption, in particular, maize, manioc and sweet potatoes.